Anthony Weiner Sides with Rival Michael Bloomberg on 'Ground Zero Mosque,' Sort Of

(Aug. 6) -- The controversy over the proposed "ground zero mosque" has been bitterly divisive for some New Yorkers, to say the least. So it was more than a little shocking when on Friday, the construction plans managed to unite two of the city's greatest rivals together.

That's right, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Anthony Weiner, the New York congressman who previously flirted with challenging Bloomberg for his post, finally agree on something, at least according to Weiner's newly released letter supporting the impassioned speech Bloomberg gave Tuesday about religious tolerance.

"I honor your powerful statement about the proposed cultural center with a mosque in lower Manhattan," Mr. Weiner's letter, which was released to The New York Times, began. "Your remarks on Tuesday put this controversial issue into context."

Weiner went on to concur with Bloomberg that government intervention to prevent the cultural center from being built, which many national and local opponents have advocated, was antithetical to how America was founded.

"I feel strongly that the constitutional protection of religion from the overreach of government means that elected officials should endeavor to stay out of the business of deciding where houses of worship may or may not be," Weiner wrote.

That sentiment may explain why Weiner, who rarely seems at a loss for words when it comes to politically charged topics, has remained relatively quiet when it comes to the so-called ground zero mosque.

Still, as the Times' noted, Mr. Weiner never explicitly states whether he is for or against the construction of the community center. That ambiguity neatly adheres to the principles laid out in his letter, while providing some possible daylight between himself and the mayor, who favors construction of the facility.

Meanwhile, the list of Republican politicians who have come out against building the community center and mosque grew on Friday as Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty joined two other presumed GOP presidential hopefuls, Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich, in condemning its construction.

"I'm strongly opposed to the idea of putting a mosque anywhere near ground zero -- I think it's inappropriate," Pawlenty said in an interview with Real Clear Politics. "I believe that 3,000 of our fellow citizens were killed in that area, and some ways from a patriotic standpoint, it's hallowed ground, it's sacred ground, and we should respect that. We shouldn't have images or activities that disrespect that in any way."

In case you missed it, here was Bloomberg on Tuesday, delivering his thoughts on the proposed community center and mosque.